Working with our CPA associate, we would like to remind you of the tax rules that apply to shareholders of S-Corporations who own 2% or more of the stock and receive certain fringe benefits. It is important that you comply with these requirements before year end, otherwise you risk the loss of your shareholder health [...]

April 15 is getting uncomfortably close. QuickBooks, of course, can't do your taxes for you. But it helps you lay some of the groundwork. Following up on last month's column on customizing reports, we'll look at the program's tax-related reports and its powerful report-filtering options. But first, you'll need to make sure that this output [...]

The IRS issued new reporting regulations for tax year 2011 1099-MISC form. These regulations will exclude some forms of payments from the 1099-MISC form; instead, the payments will be reported on the new third party form 1099-K.

The IRS issued new reporting regulations for tax year 2011 1099-MISC form. These regulations will exclude some forms of payments from the 1099-MISC form; instead, the payments will be reported on the new third party form 1099-K. If you have made payments to vendors in tax year 2011 you will only need to report certain [...]

The IRS has evidently changed it's mind about increasing the standard business mileage rate in light of the increased costs of gasoline etc. Effective July 1st through the end of December 2011 the new standard business mileage rate is 55.5¢

Effective July 1, 2011, the one percent sales and use tax rate increase that was approved with the state budget and effective April 1, 2009, will expire lowering the statewide base tax rate from 8.25 percent to 7.25 percent.

For the first time in the history of Social Security (at least in my lifetime) the employee’s portion of the Social Security tax is NOT equal to the employer's portion!! The employers are now paying a full 2% more into Social Security than the employees are contributing. (read on for details)

The IRS’s National Research Program (NRP) isn’t as benign as it sounds. NRP’s are intensive, line-by-line audits, which are intended to give the IRS basement compliance data for future enforcement efforts. The Payroll NRP, which will be conducted by the IRS’s Small Business/Self-Employed Division, was scheduled to start last November, but actually will begin this [...]

Special Tax Treatment for your expenses! Business Start-Up Costs Start-up costs are amounts paid or incurred for: (a) creating an active trade or business; or (b) investigating the creation or acquisition of an active trade or business. Start-up costs include amounts paid or incurred in connection with an existing activity engaged in for profit; and [...]

One of the advantages of operating your own business is hiring family members. However, the employment tax requirements for family employees may vary from those that apply to other employees. Below, we point out some issues to consider when operating a husband and wife business. How spouses earn Social Security benefits A spouse is considered [...]

If your employees use cell phones for company business while driving, make sure your policy requires hands-free devices. Then educate employees about the policy. Reason: California law bans the use of hand-held cell phones while driving a motor vehicle. The law carries a $20 fine for a first offense and a $50 fine for all [...]

Assorted Do’s and Don’ts Do withhold FICA on part-timers, including retirees. Even if someone who works for you part-time also has a full-time job where they have had 100% of their FICA withheld for the year, you must withhold the full amount of FICA from their pay. These individuals can obtain a refund of any [...]